Belmont: Contested stretches out in Acorn

Contested, who has reeled off three consecutive victories while gradually stretching out, will now attempt one mile for the first time in Monday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies.

Contested won twice at Santa Anita, at six and 6 1/2 furlongs, before rolling to a 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Eight Belles going seven furlongs at Churchill on Oaks Day.

On Monday, she will break from the rail when she tries the mile for the first time. The speedy filly will also likely find company on the front end from Aubby K, who comes off a 9 3/4-length, front-running score in a first-level allowance race at Gulfstream on March 25. That race was at 6 1/2 furlongs.

On Fire Baby, who won the Grade 2 Honeybee before finishing fifth in the Kentucky Oaks; Zo Impressive, runner-up in the Gulfstream Park Oaks, and Hard Mystery, winner of a one-mile overnight stakes at Aqueduct on April 28, complete the field.[bc_video_id:252861:]

Somali Lemonade tops Sands Point

In two weeks, trainer Michael Matz and jockey John Velazquez will team up with Union Rags in an attempt to stop I’ll Have Another’s Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes.

Monday, Matz and Velazquez will try to snag a somewhat smaller prize with Somali Lemonade in the Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Somali Lemonade won her debt at Belmont last Sept. 11 by 1 3/4 lengths at a healthy 10-1 with Alex Solis up. She won the Grade 3 Jessamine at Keeneland before finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill.

In her 3-year-old debut, Somali Lemonade finished second to Dayatthespa in the Grade 3 Appalachian at Keeneland.

Regalo Mia, who finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Somali Lemonade in the Appalachian, is back in this field.

Also entered are Better Lucky, Modulate, Dreaming of Cara, Preach Tome Daddy, Zultanite, and Firehouse Red. Dreaming of Cara is cross-entered in Sunday’s Mount Vernon for New York-bred fillies on the turf.

◗ There will be an all stakes pick four linking the Sands Point, Ogden Phipps, Acorn, and Metropolitan Handicap on Monday. There will be a guaranteed pool of $500,000.